VHCA Hosts BeltLine Overlay Information Session

By: Jess Windham

Over the past year, the city has been revisiting each section – or subarea – of the BeltLine overlay district to review and update the underlying zoning. Virginia-Highland is in subarea 6, which – along with subareas 2 and 9 – is next on the list for this public review process.  To prepare for the discussion, Virginia-Highland Civic Association hosted a public meeting at Church of Our Savior on Wednesday July 30.

At this meeting, we learned from planner Aaron Fortner of Market+ Main that a primary goal of the process is to better define and identify reasonable and appropriate heights, land uses and densities within the Beltline overlay district. For example, our neighboring subarea 5 identified tracts where buildings should not be above 102’ tall, or where truck stops, park-for-hire decks and lots, and mixed-use storage would be inappropriate within the context of the surrounding tracts. It is important to note that all residential parcels for single or two-family homes (R-1 to R-5) are exempt and won’t change in this process.

Another consideration in the review process entails creating the groundwork for a vibrant, walkable retail space. Storefront streets and land tracts will be identified in the process where this kind of development will be encouraged. For example, once a building is 60% or more removed or destroyed, the proposed guidelines would provide that new buildings use higher quality building materials (i.e. not vinyl), install windows to comprise 65% or more of the building’s façade, and employ other design guidelines that result in pedestrian-friendly retail.

Through this review process, we are being provided an opportunity to shape the future of Virginia-Highland. This fall the Beltline will be hosting public meetings for input on our subarea 6 and we will do our best to publish the details of those meetings. In the meantime, if you are interested in participating in discussions relevant to this topic, please contact [email protected].

For additional background on this topic, please read our July 10th article.

Click here for a copy of the BeltLine’s Subarea 6 plan.

Click here for current zoning designation maps for Virginia-Highland.